Foveal morphology of retinal layers in 4 to 6-year-old children with history of retinopathy of prematurity: J-CREST study

Abstract The most effective treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is considered as the laser therapy. We compared the foveal morphology of the retina in eyes with a history of ROP with that of full-term children. This was a cross-sectional comparative study. Seventy-eight patients with a history of ROP, aged 4–6 years, were included. Among them, 45 underwent laser treatment for ROP. The clinical findings and retinal morphology in these patients were compared with that of 33 patients who had spontaneous regression of ROP and 30 age-matched full-term controls. All patients with ROP had 20/40 or better best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). The foveal thickness was significantly thicker and foveal depression was significantly shallower in laser-treated ROP eyes than in regressed ROP eyes and controls. The outer nuclear layer was significantly thicker, and the inner segment (IS) of the photoreceptors and the inner retinal layer (IRL) were significantly longer in the laser-treated ROP eyes than that in the control eyes. In ROP patients and controls, BCVA was associated with the foveal depression, foveal depression was associated with the gestational age and IS thickness was associated with ROP stage. Our results suggest that prematurity and laser treatment affect the foveal morphology and BCVA.